Cargo shipping assembly and method

ABSTRACT

A method of loading cargo includes the steps of providing a lower frame, supporting the cargo on the lower frame, positioning a plurality of vertical posts in spaced apart manner about the lower frame and exterior to the cargo, supporting an upper frame above the posts, and securing the lower frame, the posts and the upper frame around the cargo.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to cargo shipping assemblies that savestorage space in containers, and which minimize the cost of labor, whileeffectively protecting the cargo stored therein.

2. Description Of The Related Art

The shipping of cargo has becoming increasingly important in today'sbusiness environment. Shipping is usually carried out by truck, air orsea. The cargo is typically loaded on to pallets, which can be stored incontainers for shipping. Alternatively, the cargo can be loaded loosely(without a pallet) into a container for shipping.

Unfortunately, both pallet-loading and loose-loading of cargo sufferfrom drawbacks. Pallets take up a lot of space in a container. On theother hand, loose-loading is very labor-intensive because laborers willbe needed to slowly load the cargo into a container at the embarkationpoint, and to slowly unload the cargo from the container at thedestination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a cargo shippingassembly that saves storage space in containers.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cargoshipping assembly which minimizes the cost of labor.

The objectives of the present invention can be accomplished by providinga method of loading cargo, which includes providing a lower frame,supporting the cargo on the lower frame, positioning a plurality ofvertical posts in spaced apart manner about the lower frame and exteriorto the cargo, supporting an upper frame above the posts, and securingthe lower frame, the posts and the upper frame around the cargo.

The cargo assembly of the present invention includes a lower frame,cargo supported on the lower frame, a plurality of vertical postspositioned in spaced apart manner about the lower frame and exterior tothe cargo, and an upper frame supported above the posts. The lowerframe, the posts and the upper frame are secured around the cargo, andcan be provided in separate pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an perspective view of a cargo shipping assembly according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cargo shipping assembly ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cargo shipping assembly 10 of thepresent invention has a bottom flat board 20, a lower frame 30, fourvertical support posts 40, an upper frame 50, and a top flat board 60.

The bottom flat board 20 has a planar sheet 21 of material with fourborder edges 22, 23, 24 and 25 provided along each edge of the planarsheet 21. The bottom flat board 20 can be made from paper board,cardboard, plastic sheets, metal sheets, wood board or similarmaterials.

The lower frame 30 has four bars 31, 32, 33 and 34 that are connectedtogether to form a four-sided (rectangular or square) frame that definesa periphery, with each bar 31, 32, 33, 34 corresponding to one of theborder edges 22, 23, 24, 25. The lower frame 30 can be made from metal,wood, paper board, cardboard, plastic or any similar strong material.The lower frame 30 is placed on the planar sheet 21, with the borderedges 22, 23, 24, 25 of the bottom flat board 20 extending around thebars 31, 32, 33, 34, respectively. The lower frame 30 can then besecured within the bottom flat board 20 by strapping bands or sealingtapes (e.g., see 70 in FIG. 1) that are wrapped around the assembly 10after the entire assembly 10 has been put together, as shown in FIG. 1.

The top flat board 60 is similar to the bottom flat board 20, and theupper frame 50 is similar to the lower frame 30, and interact in thesame manner. The top flat board 60 has a planar sheet 61 of materialwith four border edges (only two edges 62, 63 are shown) provided alongeach edge of the planar sheet 61. The top flat board 60 can be made frompaper board, cardboard, plastic sheets, metal sheets, woodboard orsimilar materials.

The upper frame 50 has four border bars 51, 52, 53, 54 that areconnected together to form a four-sided (rectangular or square) framethat defines a periphery, with each border bar 51, 52, 53, 54corresponding to one of the border edges 62, 63 of the top flat board60. In addition, two crossing bars 55 and 56 extend within the interiorspace defined by the four border bars 51, 52, 53, 54, with the crossingbar 55 having ends connected to the border bars 51 and 53, and thecrossing bar 56 having ends connected to the border bars 52 and 54. Thebars 51-56 of the upper frame 50 can be made from metal, wood, paperboard, cardboard, plastic or any similar strong material, and functionto reinforce and maintain the upper frame 50 in its proper shape tosupport loads that may be exerted from other assemblies 10 that may bestacked on top of this assembly 10. The planar sheet 61 is positionedover the upper frame 50, with the border edges (e.g., 62, 63) of the topflat board 60 extending around the bars 51, 52, 53, 54. The upper frame50 can then be secured within the top flat board 60 by strapping bandsor sealing tapes (e.g., see 70 in FIG. 1) that are wrapped around theassembly 10 after the entire assembly 10 has been put together, as shownin FIG. 1.

Each of the four vertical support posts 40 has opposing ends that arefitted to opposing corners of the upper frame 50 and the lower frame 30.Each support post 40 can be made from any strong yet lightweightmaterial, such as but not limited to metal or plastic. Each support post40 can have any desired cross-sectional configuration, includingL-shaped (as shown), square, triangular, rounded, etc.

Four side walls 80, 82, 84, 86 are provided to enclosed the sides of theassembly 10. Each side wall 80, 82, 84, 86 is fitted inside and betweentwo adjacent posts 40, and between a bar of the upper frame 50 and a barof the lower frame 30. For example, the side wall 86 is fitted insideand between two posts 40, and between the bars 51 and 31 of the frames50 and 30, respectively.

The assembly 10 can be assembled, and the cargo loaded, in the followingmanner. First, the bottom flat board 20 is placed on the ground, and oneor more strapping bands 70 are placed below of the planar sheet 21. Thebars 31, 32, 33, 34 of the lower frame 30 are then placed on the sidesof the planar sheet 21, with the border edges 22, 23, 24, 25 surroundingthe corresponding bars 31, 32, 33, 34, and then the cargo (e.g.,products or boxes) is placed on top of the planar sheet 21 and stackedto a desired height. A protective sheet (e.g., such as a stretched film)can be used to wrap the exterior of the stacked cargo so as to protectthe cargo from scraping with the side walls 80, 82, 84, 86 duringshipment. The side walls 80, 82, 84, 86 are then placed around the foursides of the stacked cargo, and then the four posts 40 are positionedaround the four corners of the stacked cargo, with each post 40 securingan edge of two adjacent side walls 80, 82, 84, 86. In addition, thebottom end of each post 40 is inserted into a corner defined by twoadjacent bars (e.g., 31 and 32) of the lower frame 30. Then, the upperframe 50 is placed over the stacked cargo, with the top end of each post40 inserted into a corner defined by two adjacent bars (e.g., 51 and 52)of the upper frame 50. The top flat board 60 is now placed on top of theupper frame 50, with the border edges (e.g., 62, 63) surrounding thecorresponding bars 51, 52, 53, 54. The entire assembly 10 is thensecured by strapping bands or sealing tapes (e.g., see 70 in FIG. 1)that are wrapped around the completed assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

The assembly 10 can be disassembled, and the cargo unloaded, in thefollowing manner. First, the strapping bands 70 are cut, and then thetop flat board 60, the upper frame 50, the posts 40, and the side walls80, 82, 84, 86 are removed (in this order). The protective sheet (ifany) is then removed, and then the cargo can be unloaded. Depending onthe nature of the cargo (and if necessary), the lower frame 30 can alsobe removed (and the corners between the border edges 22, 23, 24, 25 canbe cut), to facilitate convenient removal of the cargo.

During the loading of the cargo, all the components of the assembly 10(i.e., the bottom flat board 20, the lower frame 30, the verticalsupport posts 40, the upper frame 50, the top flat board 60, and theside walls 80, 82, 84, 86) are fitted together without the need for themto be positively attached or otherwise connected to each other. Theapplication of strapping bands or sealing tapes (e.g., see 70 in FIG. 1)that are wrapped around the completed assembly 10 is sufficient tosecure the loaded cargo inside the assembly 10. This feature enables thecargo to be loaded (i.e., the assembly 10 put together) or unloaded(i.e., the assembly 10 to be taken apart) quickly and conveniently,thereby minimizing labor and shipping costs.

The bottom flat board 20, the lower frame 30, the four vertical supportposts 40, the upper frame 50, and the top flat board 60 togetherfunction to contain and protect the cargo loaded inside. In addition,the upper frame 50 functions to divide the force from the upper load(from another assembly 10 placed on top of the top flat board 60) evenlyto its four corners, so that each corner picks up a divided share (inthis case, one-fourth) of the entire upper load force, and thentransfers this force to the support post 40. Each support post 40 picksup a divided share (in this case, one-fourth) of the entire upper loadforce, and then transfers this force to the corresponding corner of thelower frame 30, which subsequently transfers this force (via the bottomflat board 20) to the floor or another assembly 10 positioned below.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof.

1. A method of loading cargo, comprising: a. providing a lower frame; b.supporting the cargo on the lower frame; c. positioning a plurality ofvertical posts in spaced apart manner about the lower frame and exteriorto the cargo; d. supporting an upper frame above the posts; and e.securing the lower frame, the posts and the upper frame around thecargo.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower frame, the posts andthe upper frame are provided in separate pieces.
 3. The method of claim1, further including: providing the upper frame with a plurality of barsthat define a periphery, and a pair of crossing bars that extend fromthe periphery.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes: a1.providing a bottom board; and a2. positioning the lower frame on thebottom board.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lower framecomprises a plurality of bars that define a periphery, and wherein step(a) further includes: providing the bottom board with at least oneborder edge; and positioning the at least one border edge external toone of the plurality of bars.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d)further includes: positioning a top board above the upper frame.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the upper frame comprises a plurality of barsthat define a periphery, and wherein step (d) further includes:providing the top board with at least one border edge; and positioningthe at least one border edge external to one of the plurality of bars.8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further includes: positioningbottom ends of the plurality of vertical posts in spaced apart mannerabout the lower frame.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (d)further includes: positioning top ends of the plurality of verticalposts in spaced apart manner about the upper frame.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein step (d) further includes: positioning top ends of theplurality of vertical posts in spaced apart manner about the upperframe.
 11. The method of claim 1, further including: positioning atleast one side wall external to the cargo and between two adjacentposts.
 12. The method of claim 1, further including: placing anothercargo on top of the upper frame; dividing the force of the anothercargo; and transferring the divided forces to the lower frame.
 13. Amethod of loading cargo, comprising: a. providing a bottom board; b.positioning the lower frame on the bottom board; c. supporting the cargoon the lower frame; d. positioning bottom ends of a plurality ofvertical posts in spaced apart manner about the lower frame and exteriorto the cargo; e. positioning top ends of the plurality of vertical postsin spaced apart manner about an upper frame; f. positioning at least oneside wall external to the cargo and between two adjacent posts; g.positioning a top board above the upper frame; and h. securing thebottom board, the lower frame, the posts, the at least one side wall,the upper frame and the top board around the cargo.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the bottom board, the lower frame, the posts, the atleast one side wall, the upper frame and the top board are provided inseparate pieces.
 15. The method of claim 13, further including:providing the upper frame with a plurality of bars that define aperiphery, and a pair of crossing bars that extend from the periphery.16. A cargo assembly, comprising: a lower frame; cargo supported on thelower frame; a plurality of vertical posts positioned in spaced apartmanner about the lower frame and exterior to the cargo; an upper framesupported above the posts; and means for securing the lower frame, theposts and the upper frame around the cargo; wherein the lower frame, theposts and the upper frame are provided in separate pieces.
 17. Theassembly of claim 16, wherein the lower frame, the posts and the upperframe are not positively attached to each other.
 18. The assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the upper frame has a plurality of bars that define aperiphery, and a pair of crossing bars that extend from the periphery.19. The assembly of claim 17, further including: a bottom board on whichthe lower frame is positioned; a top board which is positioned above theupper frame; and at least one side wall external to the cargo andpositioned between two adjacent posts.
 20. The assembly of claim 19,wherein the lower frame comprises a plurality of bars that define aperiphery, and wherein the bottom board has at least one border edgethat is positioned external to one of the plurality of bars.
 21. Theassembly of claim 19, wherein the upper frame comprises a plurality ofbars that define a periphery, and wherein the top board has at least oneborder edge that is positioned external to one of the plurality of bars.